Pirelli has finally signed an agreement with the FIA to continue as Formula One's tyre supplier until the end of 2019.
The Italian tyre manufacturer already had a deal in place with Formula One Management to stay in the sport, but has been in the process of agreeing a testing plan with the FIA before signing off on the sporting contract.
An agreement was reached earlier this year to ensure Pirelli has enough track time to develop next year's wider specification tyres, but the official confirmation was not made until Friday afternoon at the Grand Prix of Europe.
The following agreements have been made regarding tyre testing:
1. Tests with 2012, 2013 or 2014-specification cars, using tyres in the current size but with prototype elements (in the constructions or compounds) to prepare for 2017.
2. A total of 25 days of testing with modified 2015 cars, using prototype tyres in 2017 size: 305/670-13 at the front and 405/670-13 at the rear (for slick tyres).
The press release added: "The testing described in point one is already underway, based on an agreement with the FIA and the teams.
"The second type of testing (with tyres in 2017 size) will start during the summer, according to a programme that has been agreed between the FIA and the participating teams."